Zoho Vertical Studio is a powerful platform designed for developers to create tailored applications for specific industries or business segments. This guide will help you get started with Zoho Vertical Studio, right from signing up as a developer to creating and publishing your first application in Vertical Studio.

Sign up for Zoho Developer 

You can also sign in using your Google and LinkedIn accounts. Once you have successfully signed up, you will be taken to the Zoho Developer Homepage.

Build your first application  

Once you have signed in to the Developer Console, you are ready to create your first application and publish it for your customers. The process of building an application can be broken down into four fundamental steps:

• Set Up

• Build your Vertical Application

• Test

• Publish

• Distribution and Customer Onboarding

1. Configure the Application 

To take the first step to building your first vertical application, log in to Zoho Developer and select Vertical Studio. Then,

1. Click on Create Vertical App

2. In the Create Vertical App page, fill in the following details:

1. App Name: A unique name for your application.

2. App URL: A unique URL for your application.

3. Vertical Category: From the list of categories, select the industry for which you are building the application.

4. Modules: Choose standard modules to include that you want to include in your application. You may also unselect all the standard modules and opt to build your application with entirely custom modules if the standard modules don't meet your specific needs.
   Note: Standard modules cannot be added or removed later.

5. App Description: Provide a short description for your application.

3. Click Create App

On successful creation, you will be redirected to the App Details page. You can now proceed to the next step of building & verticalizing your application with all the custom components and workflows required for your application.

 2. Build your Application 

This step focuses on tailoring your application to meet industry-specific needs.

Build & Customize your Application: Build is the key aspect of this phase.  You can rename the standard modules, add or modify modules, fields, buttons, and links to create a user interface that aligns with industry workflows. Set up automation rules and define processes to align your application to the requirements of the specific industry you are designing it for. Configure user profiles and permissions to ensure data security and appropriate access levels. You can also create email templates and notification systems to streamline communication within the application.

Canvas allows you to design a completely customized interface using a drag-and-drop editor, enabling you to create industry-specific layouts, prioritize relevant information, and improve user experience. By leveraging different customization options, you can create a highly tailored application that not only aligns with the industry-specific requirements, but also enhances user experience and productivity.

Brand your Application: You can reflect your brand identity in the look and feel of your application. Upload your company logo and customize the design theme to match your brand identity. Add relevant email addresses for support, payment, and sign-up related notifications.

Add Pricing Plans: Defining a pricing strategy is a critical component of is a critical step in ensuring your application's success in a competitive market. Zoho's platform includes a base fee, which is payable to Zoho. Developers can then set their own pricing on top of this fee. To optimize your approach, you can create various pricing plans, each tailored to include different modules. You may also offer options such as a one-time setup fee and discounts for annual subscriptions to encourage long-term commitment.

3. Test your Application

After you have added relevant components and customizations for your application, you must test it thoroughly before publishing it for your customers. The sandbox environment allows you to simulate the end-user experience and test your application without having to publish it.

In the sandbox environment, verify that all customizations and features are working as intended. Adjust workflows and automation rules as needed to optimize performance and provide a smooth user experience.

Testing doesn’t have to wait until development is complete—it can happen in parallel, allowing you to make improvements as you go.

 4. Publish  your Application

After you have added all the necessary customizations to your application and tested it thoroughly, you can publish it and make it available for new users. While publishing, add relevant release notes briefly describing your application or the recent changes. Once published, your application will be accessible to the public for new sign-ups.

When publishing, you can choose how your application will be accessed:

• Make your application publicly available, allowing anyone to sign up and use it immediately.

• Keep your application private, where users must request access before creating an account. This option is ideal for inviting a closed group of beta testers to try your application.

 5. Distribution and Customer Onboarding 

Once published, there are several ways to distribute your application among users.

a. Privately Inviting Customer(s):

This option is ideal for controlled rollouts, beta testing, or providing exclusive access to specific customers. You can selectively invite users to create accounts and access your application.

b. Distribution via Zoho Marketplace:

To reach a wider audience, you can also distribute your application via Zoho Marketplace. Zoho Marketplace is an online platform where developers can showcase and distribute their applications to a wide audience of potential customers. To distribute via Zoho Marketplace, submit your application for review after testing and publishing. Upon approval, your application will be listed, making it discoverable and accessible to a larger customer base.

c.  Embedding Signup & Sign-in on your Websites/Web Pages:

This option allows the developers to easily integrate access to the application directly within their existing web presence. By embedding signup and sign-in functionality, customers can create accounts and access your application directly from your website. This can enhance brand consistency and streamline the onboarding process for customers already familiar with your services.

6 . Manage your Application Customers/Subscribers 

The Zoho Vertical Studio platform's support extends beyond providing a platform for creating and publishing your applications. It also encompasses the support and retention stages of the customer lifecycle.

With our built-in functionalities, you can efficiently manage your subscribers by addressing their support needs, rolling out updates, and managing their subscription plans—all directly within our developer console.

Zoho Vertical Studio is your all-in-one platform to transform the way you work on building industry-specific applications.